I was reading on Boxingtalk.com an interview Brad Cooney did with Shannon Briggs and I couldn't help but laugh. Several times in the interview Briggs mentioned having asthma and pneumonia before his last fight. Now I have never had asthma but I heard it can be quite the b*tch. Anyway the reason I laughed is because Briggs kept mentioning he had asthma as if he deserved a special award for being a fighter with asthma. Why I laugh is because Briggs who is like 6'4 270 is a huge man, yet everytime something happens he mentions his asthma. What he never mentions is the fact he gained a lot of weight since he first started boxing. He fought George Foreman in 1997 at a weight of 227 but in his last fight against Sultan Ibrigramov he fought at 273. If ashtma is such a big concern, then he should keep his weight down. I know from many people that being overweight and out of shape does not help those with asthma. Talk to your doctor Shannon. Plus I have heard Teddy Atlas tell Shannon he needs to lose some weight on Friday Night Fights. Briggs mentioned he is the first Heavyweight Champion with asthma and states Tyson, Ali and even Jack Johnson did not have asthma. Well he is right, but why is he mentioning these names? When anyone thinks of great heavyweights regardless of condition, Shannon Briggs name does not come up. Isn't it funny how people always like to have an excuse ready so that if they lose they can use it and if they win they can play on it? Shannon Briggs is not the first fighter to fight sick or with some form of condition. Sam Langford fought while he was partially blind, but he did not speak of it at all. Fighters have fought with broken bones and many other injuries and conditions. So if you are going to fight, keep all of your excuses out of the ring otherwise just hang it up. If you would like to read the entire Briggs interview, please go to http://www.boxingtalk.com/pag/article15307.html.
2 comments:
Poor guy :( Some folks with asthma use a form of steroids to treat their condition, and one of the side effects is weight gain. Do you think that may be his issue?
I think the love of food and laziness was his issue. He was always an underachiever. Some have referred to him as a con artist. I would not go that far but I do not think for the physcial attribute he has he has done much with them. Instead he blames it on his asthma.
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